Bicycles , ebikes , dirty pics and other stuff.

[nigel s]

Another evening ride, some new tracks and general tomfoolery.
Pic of Happisburgh Lighthouse with bonus church in the backround.
The church doesn't really lean like that, must be my cheap phone 

[Barbel Mick]

Nigel, not sure if you've been watching the Olympics but this is the GB lad, Kieran Reilly, who won silver in the BMX freestyle the other day.
Like we said, how do you practice this stuff? 

[Rixington43]

Lovely lap of Gwydir Mawr (otherwise known as The Marin Trail) today.
Wales really is bloody glorious, a few days a year 😉

[UK_Vstrom650]

Took the kids to Cannock Chase for a ride around the blue route - they both enjoyed it and are improving on their off-road skills.
Left them at Go-Ape so I could have a quick ride on the red route 'Follow The Dog' - covered 5.82 miles with 600ft of elevation in 48:39 mins. Was a bit of a slog on the uphill sections and had an average heart rate of 160bpm for the ride (max 185).
This Forestry England national membership has paid for itself now.

[nigel s]

Got my first puncture on the gasgas yesterday, in the rear. I was carrying a spare tube and levers and thankfully it turns out it is an easy tyre to  get off and on over the rim, didn't need the levers for it to go back over. Old tube was in the sink and repaired when I got home. Through axles, derailleur locks and disc brakes are all new to me but do make wheel removal/replacement dead easy.
Not bad ,just the one puncture, considering the nature of some of the stuff I have been riding over.

[Rusty Nuts]

A puncture didn't affect Pidcock too much.

[UK_Vstrom650]

You might need to think about going tubeless Nigel. I had one puncture on my first rideon  one of the bikes after a farmer had been cutting hedges which the sealant plugged. Does mean you need to check sealant levels every so often, carry tyre plugs (which I've never used) and a spare tube if you're going far...

[nigel s]

Rusty ,
The gap between what Pidcock does on a bike and what I do is so big I can't even see the other side. 
Besides... he has a mechanic to sort that stuff out

UK_Vstrom650,
I will get my money out of these tyres first then look into tubeless , Ta.
Not sure if the rims are compatible, will have to check. They have reinforced eyelets and are ridiculously light compared to what I am used to , that is as much as I am sure of.
I have run the kevlar reinforced Schwalbe Marathons on the hydrid for years now , going over much the same stuff and never had a puncture over the two sets I have used, may look into something like them but with a suitable grip pattern
Though bicycle tyres ,like motorbike tyres , but even more so are at stupid prices for what they are.
A quick google found these,
HMMM.

https://www.tredz.co.uk/.Schwalbe-Marathon-Plus-SmartGuard-E-50-Endurance-Compound-Wired-26-MTB-Tyre_92758.htm?sku=324223&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_content=Schwalbe&utm_campaign=shopping&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwzby1BhCQARIsAJ_0t5O1xB_jKjC86H3v9Q8HtFRUJrk6h-2h1b02a7ph4N4sDIW0_0GIsrUaAtSZEALw_wcB

[UK_Vstrom650]

Agree make the most out of the tyres before swapping but are the tyres on the GasGas not tubeless ready? I thought most MTBs came tubeless ready these days... You'll likely need rim tape, valves and sealant to convert if you ever want to.

(Re: the link below, I'm assuming the GasGas is 29" tyres not 26" which they are)

[nigel s]

They could well be tubeless ready, not checked yet, and yes 29ers, good spot. 
I have had a look on the e mtb forums after your post as to how to change to tubeless , seems simple enough, tape ,valve and sealant.
 Some were also going with these, which I found interesting. Even with a sliced up sidewall they will still hold air and roll. Pricy.......but I am assuming they can be put in new tyre many times ?
https://www.tannus.co.uk/collections/armour/products/tannus-armour-tyre-insert-for-29-wheel
More weight but with an e mtb that is not so much of a problem
Those combined with the schwalbe's ( those at that site only had 26s but they are available in 29s  ) should mean I can always make it home as the armour even allows "run flat".
Like my strom, reliability is more important than speed
Not decide yet.
All new to me.........
Any thoughts would be appreciated.

[UK_Vstrom650]

You can get similar tyre inserts for a tubeless setup - I haven't bothered as I don't think I ride aggressively enough to need them. But I have seen someone who does and they didn't help him but that may have been a one off/unlucky for him.

There's some good valves on the market these days - I have some version 1 Muc-off iridescent valves on the road bike to add some bling and matching Muc-off stealth bar end caps to carry the plugs, but I think other brands do the hidden plug bar ends/better valves.

I'd suggest going tubeless eventually as it'll protect against thorns which might be what you come across most. It also allows you to run lower tyre pressures for better grip.
The downside is you have to top up the sealant every so often and you can get clogged valves (I try wherever possible to have the valves angled so the drain when stored)

I my old mountain bike, 26 inch wheels, I have the old Slime inner tubes which have sealant in them. They also work well but are heavier. Am sure they make them in 29ers but I've never bothered being a non-ebike.

[nigel s]

Ta for that.
Does seem like tubeless is the way to go on a mtb.
A friend who does a lot of riding ,1000 miles plus a month, has gone off tubeless on his road bike.His problem was thorns as you say.But he found sometimes when he got a puncture out on the road that the sealant/plug couldn't handle and went to fit a tube ,it got a puncture straight off, 'cos there was a tiny thorn in the tyre he didn't find 'cos the sealer had silently done it's job and he had no warning of it. He was then stuck phoning his wife to come get him .
That wore thin pretty quickly ,her being a nurse working shifts

Ho Hum

[Asmith61]

nigel s, UK_Vstrom650, Rixington43.  I thought of you blokes this morning I went out for a ride around Kent about 90 miles stopping at Headcorn Aerodrome for a coffee. There is a Electric bike centre there. Also this Plane had just landed.

[nigel s]

Thanks for the thought ,
Now , I know nearly as much about planes as I do about cars...not a lot... , but I'll have a stab...Mustang 
Can't imagine there are many of them left flying, if it is one.

Ho Hum

[Asmith61]

nigel s  I have to say I didn’t know what it was either  but I have found what I think it maybe ??

[nigel s]

Good  bit of research 

[nigel s]

Oh Dear,
Cycling into work today I see our local shepherd has run over one too many rocks/ unleashed dogs.
The number plate fell off , when the diff hit probably , and was up the road. Check out the wheel angle , even jacked up.
Not much money in sheep, that bill is going to hurt.

[nigel s]

Update on the gasgas,
I fitted Tannus tyre armour a couple of weeks ago and have been impressed so far.




No punctures.......
Also quite a difference in ride quality, much less "boing" on the 2.3" tyres, it seems to damp out the hits compared to normal, comfort is improved over broken ground.
Fitting wasn't too bad, some have struggled going by YT comments.
Rotated the chain at 700 miles , went up a grade to NX, no wear in the original, but the price of a new chainset is something I want to avoid having to spend out as long as possible.

All good.

[kwackboy]

Dusted off my Surly (it's been hanging on the wall for nearly 4 years  ), gave it a wash and a service and sorted my cycling gear. No lycra, I promise.. 

I then went on a 13mile loop along the Thames path which was nice on the way out but coming back was challenging due to at least a 20mph headwind... 

Didn't do too bad considering I've been out the saddle for some years. 
I used to ride over a 100 miles a week ... 
.

[nigel s]

Tailwind  out  , no no no